Radiator cleaner



Dec. l5, 1931. G. c. PECK 1,836,988

RADIATOR CLEANER Filed 00T..y 20, 1928 RUM l lll/1111111111 lll 'IIAINVENTOR. .,I Geo/ye C Peck,

` B .Z/ 1.21416 17.29 i; 36 )l lg 0 ATToRN I Patented Dec. 15, 1931UNITED STATES GEORGE C. PEOR, 0F GRANITE CITY, ILLINOIS RADIATOR CLEANERApplication led October 20, 1928. Serial N o. 318,873.

This invention relates to a device for cleaning the radiators ofautomobiles and the like. The usual method hitherto employed forcleaning these radiators has consisted. 1n re- I moving the radiatorfrom the automobile and boring a hole in the bottom of the radiator atthe side remote from the outlet stem. Compressed air, together with tapwater under the usual pressure of a city water supply l0 system, wasthen introduced into the radiator through the outlet stem at the lowerportion of the radiator through a rubber hose connection thereto, andcompressed air was also introduced into the radiator through theaforesaid hole by means of a suitable connection thereto, the purposehaving been to cause the air to rise through the water tubes at bothSides of the radiator, thereby loosening the impacted material ordeposits from the 1nterior of all the tubes equally, the looseneddeposits ascending through the radiator with the flowing water and beingdischarged therefrom with the water through the inlet stem or theradiator cap opening. After the completion of the cleaning operation,the hole that had been made in the bottom of the radiator had first tobe closed by soldering a plate thereover, prior to replacing theradiator in its position on the automobile.

Accordingly, the present invention aims to provide means whereby theradiator may be cleaned internally without irst having to remove it fromits position in the automobile; without having to bore the aforesaidhole in the bottom and subsequently having to reclose it; and withouthaving to lose time in making inconvenient soldered or hose connectionsto the hole in the bottom of the radiator or to the outlet stem. Otherobjects and advantages will appear in the course of the followingdescription of an illustrative embodiment of the invention.

In the accompanying Idrawings forming part of this specification, inwhich like numbers of reference denote like parts wherever the occur,

igure 1 is a rear elevation of an automobile radiator, showing thecleaner of this invention attached to the outlet stem thereof;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of the cleaner, taken on theline 2--2 in Figure 3;

Figure 3 is a view of the detached cleaner, looking at the side that ispresented to the outlet stem or pipe of the radiator, and with l partsbroken away; and

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line. 4 4 in Figure 1.

The illustrative embodiment comprises a conduit-bearing body or casing 1that serves as a closure member for the open end of the hollow stem oroutlet pipe 2 of the automobile radiator 3. The casing 1 is clampedagainst the end of the pipe 2 by means of a clamping frame 4, comprisingan annular portion or ring 5 that embraces the pipe 2 and a U-shapcdportion 6 whose ends rise from opposing portions of the ring 5. Aplurality of set screws 7 extend radially through and in threadedrelation to the ring 5 at equal angular intervals, and are adjusted toclamp against the wall of the pipe 2. A set screw 8 threads through theintermediate portion 9 of the U-shaped portion 6 that extends behind themember 1, and is adjusted to force the casing 1 against the open end ofthe pipe 2. An annular gasket or washer 10, preferably of rubber, isinterposed between the end of the pipe 2 and the seating face 11 of thecasing 1 to facilitate the making of a leak-proof connection.

A plurality of threaded openings 12, 13 and 14 are formed in the annularwall 15 of the casing 1. A short threaded pipe or nipple 16 passes inthreaded relation throu h the intermediate opening 13, and is pre erablysecured tightly by means of a locknut 17. The inner end of nipple 16threads tightly into the short arm 18 of a pipe elbow 19, the other arm20 of which extends through a sleeve portion 2l that rises from the edgeof a central opening 22 in the seatin Wall 11. The outer end of arm 2Ois threade exteriorly to receive the internally threaded end 23 of aiexible conduit or hose 24. Conduit 24 passes through pipe or outletstem 2 into the interior of the radiator 3, as best shown in Figure 4,and then extends along the bottom of the radiator toward the side remotefrom the stem 2, as best shown in Figure l, and

then preferably terminatesin a non-flexible upturned end 25. A nipple 26is threaded .into the opening 12. Nipples 16 and 26 are connected torespective valves or cocks 27 and 28 through the intermediation of pipeunions 29 and nipples 30. Valves 27 and 28 are pref-= erably formed in asingle casting or casing 31 and both communicate with a common or singleinlet conduit 32, having a nipple 33 threaded thereinto. A short pipe 34threads into the opening 14, and a sleeve 35 threads on the outer end ofpipe 34. The outer end of sleeve 35 is threaded at 36 to fit a waterhose connection.

With the device attached to the radiator as shown in Figures 1 and 4, aconduit leading from a source of com ressed air is connected to the niple 33; an a hose leading from a source o water under a suitablepressure is connected to the nipple 35. Valves 27 and 28 are opened toadmit air from their common conduit 32 into their res ective conduits,16 and 26, and the tap to w 'ch the water hose is connected is o ened toadmit water into the conduit 34. ater from ipe 34 and air from pipe 26enter the cham r in the casing 1 and discharge therefrom. throughopening 22 and sleeve 2l to enter the hollow outlet stemfpr pipe 2 andthe radiator 3. The air rises in the passage of the pipe 2 and ascendsthrough the water in those tubes of the radiator that are juxtaposed tothe passage of the pipe 2. However, air also asses through the pipe 16,the elbow 19, and t e flexible conduit 24, emerging from the end 25 ofsaid iexible conduit and bubbling up through the water tubes that aredisposed thereover, or on that side of the radiator remote from the pipe2. It will be observed that the flow of water is controlledindependently ofthe flow of air, and that the valves 27 andoperatedindependently of one another tos'regulate the How of air as maybe required at opposite sides of the radiator. The use of this evicemakes it unnecessary to remove the radiator and to bore a hole in itsbottom in order to clean both sides of the radiator in an equallythorough manner; and the device can be easily attached or detachedwithout having to make special or soldered connections. The device isalso useful for cleaning the water jacket of an internal-combustionengine, the flexible conduit 24 serving to distribute the air to artsremote from the inlet opening of the `ac et to which the device isconnected.

aving thus fully described this invention, I hereby reserve the benefitof all changes in form, arrangement, order, or use of parts, as it isevident that many minor changes may be made therein without departingfrom the spirit of this invention or the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A. cleaner of the. character described comprising a casing having anopening, said 1,sse,eee

tending therethrough and projecting through i said opening to a ointremote therefrom.

2. 1n a device o the character described, a i

casing provided with an exit opening for fluid and a pair of entranceopenings for receiving fluids, a conduit having a diameter smaller thanthat of said exit opening and extending through the casing but bein outof communication with the interior o the casing and extending throughsaid exit opening, and a second conduit branching olf from the firstconduit and terminating at one of the sald entrance openings.

3. In a de vice of the character described, a casing having an exitopening and three en trance openings, said casing being adapted to beconnected to a passage to a chamber wlth sald exit opening opening intosaid passage, a conduit extending through one entrance opening andthrough said casing and projecting through said exit opening in spacedrelation to the walls of said exit opening, means connected to that endof said conduit which projects through said exit opening and adapted toextend through said passage and into said chamber to convey a gas tosaid chamber, a second conduit connected Within another entranceopeningrto convey a gas into said casing and a third conduit connectedwith the remaining entrance openlng to convey a liquid into said casing.

4. A cleaner of the character described comprising a casing adapted forconnection to a passage to a chamber, said casing having an opening toVdischarge into said passage and being provided with three conduits,means for controllin each of said conduits indeendently of t e others,one of said conduits eing adapted to convey liquid into the casing,another to discharge gas intothe casing, and the other being extendedthrough the casing and of a length to extend into the chamber to aremote point thereof to discharge gas into the chamber at a point remotefrom said passage.

In testimony whereof I hereunto ailix my signature.

GEORGE C. PECK.

